Awning



J. F, PLAT-TE AWNING Filed Marh 23, 1934 Patented Dec. 18, 1934 ururspSTATES 7 *1,984,807f 'AWNING v John F. Platte, South Gate, Calif.

Application March 23,

3 Claims.

My invention relates toan awning or porch curtain and has for itsprincipal object, the provision of a relatively simple, strong anddurable awning or curtain composed of slats that are connected byiiexible members such as chains in order that the completed structuremay have a certain degree of flexibility when installed for use andwhich iiexible construction enables the awning or curtain to be rolledup so as to occupy comparatively little space when packed for storage ortransportation.

A further object of my invention is, to provide improved means forsecurely fastening the links of the chains to the slats.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts thatwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of an awning constructed in accordancewith my invention and mounted for use on suitable supports.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of the awning andshowing one of the supports therefor.

Fig. 3 is a view looking against the underside of a portion of theawning and showing one of the ilexible members that connects the slats.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates apreferred embodiment of my invention, 10, 10 designateslats preferablyformed of wood and substantially rectangular in cross section, whichslats are arranged parallel with each other and with their adjacentedges spaced a slight distance apart. l

Applied to the under or inner faces of the slats and disposed at rightangles thereto, are suitably spaced chains 11, preferably of the typeemployed in Window sash counter balancing means. These chains, which arereadily obtainable in the open market, are composed of links bent doublewith the end portions of each link having coinciding openings thatreceive the bent end of the next adjacent link. 1

In order to secure the chains to the slats, nails 12 are driven throughthe slats so that the points of said nails project as illustrated bydotted lines in Fig. 4.

The chains are noW applied to the under or rear faces of the slats sothat the projecting portions of the nails extend through the looped1934, serial No. 717,009 (c1. 156-16) portions of certain of the chainlinks, after which the portions of the rails that project through theloops of the chains are bent at right angles. The chains which arestanding on edge against the slats, are now given a quarter turn so aSto 5 lie flat against the inner 'or under faces of the slats and suchaction accompanied by sufficient pressure, forces the points of thenails into the slats on the opposite side from those portions of thenails that. extend entirely through the slat (see Fig. 4).

Thus in effect the attaching nails function as staples to secure thechains to the slats within an intermediate portion of each nail passingthrough one of-the chain links and all of the links lying flat againstthe inner or under sides of the slats.

To mount the slatted structure for use as an awning as illustrated inFig. 1, one end of the slatted structure is secured in any suitablemanner, preferably by means of screw eyes 13, to a cleat or fixedsupport 14, and the outer portion of the awning is positioned upon asuitable horizontally disposed support.

In the present instance I have shown the support for the outer portionof the awning in the form of a metal tube or pipe 15 and the endportions of this supporting member are connected preferably by means ofturn buckles, such as 16, to the upper portions of upright members orstandards 17.

In order to secure the outer portion to the supporting rail 15, wiressuch as 18 are passed beneath the supporting rail and the ends of saidWires are twisted through links of the chains' that connect the slats.

The use of nails in securing the chains to the slats and the bending ofthe projecting ends of the nails so that the same extend through thechain links and with the points of the nails driven into the slats,provides simple, efficient and inexpensive means for securely connectingthe chains to; the slats and a exible structure is produced that may beused as an awning, a blind, porch curtain or the like.

Thus it Will be seen that I have provided a exible awning or curtainthat is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufactureand very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

, It will be understood that minor changes i the size, form andconstruction of the various parts of my improved awning may be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without departing fromthe spirit of my inven- 55 tion, the scope of which is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An awning, comprising a plurality of parallel slats, chains arrangedon the under or inner faces of said slats and extending at right anglesthereto, nails severally passing through said slats with the projectingportion of each nail extending through a link of said chains and thepoint of each nail extending into the associated slat at the side of theassociated chain.

2. An awning, comprising a series of parallel slats, chains having flatlinks arranged on the under or inner faces of said slats, nailsseverally passing through said slats, portions of which nails are bentat right angles and severally extend through the links of said chainsand the points of Which nails are rebent and extend into the slats onthe opposite sides of the associated links from the main body portionsof said nails.

3. An awning, comprising a series of parallel slats, chains secured tothe under or inner faces of said slats, one end of said awning adaptedto be fastened to a xed support the other end 10 portion of the awningadapted to be supported on a rail and fastening means passing aroundsaid rail and secured to said chains.

